Meet Dr. Toni Carr of Inspiring Smiles in Mansfield

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Toni Carr.

Dr. Carr, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
At a very young age, God gave me a desire and a strong concern for the well-being of others. I knew that I wanted to be a doctor around age 7. God gave me a mother who encouraged, inspired, supported and gave me confidence. My mother wanted to help me see my dream fulfilled; she was instrumental in my learning of The High School for Health Professions in the Medical Center, in Houston, TX. There I was able to explore all of the health careers; in the 10th grade, I felt my calling to the field of Dentistry. My interests grew towards this wonderful career and I developed a laser focus to follow through on my desired goal to become a dentist. As a high school student, my first job was with Dr. V. Glasper, DDS who was very warmhearted, and encouraging. While completing my Bachelor of Science undergraduate studies at Prairie View A&M University, I worked with the friendly, on-campus dentist. I decided to further my education at Meharry Medical College, School of Dentistry, in Nashville, TN. I gained more respect and understanding of the field of dentistry when I had an opportunity to work with Dr. S. Sigur, DDS, an alumnus of Meharry.

For me, it was important that I was fully prepared and strive for excellence in my profession, I could see the value in advanced training. I chose a General Practice Residency at Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center, in Bronx, NY. There I had the privilege to work with the esteemed Dr. Paul Gates, DDS. Obtaining an associate dentist position at one of the local corporate dental service organizations in Dallas is what brought me to North Texas. Finally, the perseverance, dedication, discipline had paid off. I was on track to really do what I had set out to do all those years ago. There for eighteen years I was afforded the opportunity to grow as dentist. I settled into a zone of comfort but still something was missing. I felt I could have an even more fulfilling and healthier type of practice. I felt the urge to become a business owner, to go into private practice. Toni Carr, DDS Inspiring Smiles was birthed in God’s timing. My decision to take this path required courage and a leap of faith to trust God for new directions. I knew I had to start a new journey of dedication, commitment, and transformation.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Helping others, and having a career that I love comes with many different challenges. Having a good location, the right people in the right position, choosing the right software, making your company known to others are a few of the challenges. However, some trades are worth making. Leaving where I was, for me, meant trading security for finding greater significance. It meant trading acceptable for excellence. It meant trading quantity for quality. I had to overcome my fears of doing the business without really knowing what the future holds. George Land, who was a brilliant biologist stated, “The pull of the future has to be stronger than the gravity of the past!” I had to develop a plan to do dentistry that I felt was focused on the right thing. Meeting the needs of my patients by focusing on connecting and creating and relationships.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Dr. Toni Carr DDS Inspiring Smiles story. Tell us more about the business.
Dr. Toni Carr, DDS Inspiring Smiles is practice that want to do its part to make the world a better place by using our unique talents to inspire others. Our culture is rooted deeply in treating others the ways we would want to be treated; with honor, kindness, dignity and respect. We are a One-to-One Practice built on connecting and creating relationships. We focus on placing value on quality interactions and engagement. We emphasize diagnoses of the problem and the potential solutions. Your dental health is a vital part of your total health and well-being that you can be intimately engaged in the process of becoming as healthy as you choose to become. We take care to guide you to treatment that helps to prevent, protect and preserve your teeth and oral health for your lifetime. People are looking for something other than a workshop atmosphere; but instead, somewhere they’re listened to and where they will be cared for as individuals. We are meeting the needs of our patients while focused on providing an ultimate patient experience with world class customer service. Practicing dentistry is a privilege, and it’s critical to return the privilege by giving back, I give of myself by volunteering my services and donating to causes I believe in locally and globally.

If you had to start over, what would you have done differently?
I’ve realized the value of having a mentor. I would make an early initiative to get a mentor in my field. I would get more training on the administrative aspects of dentistry. I would believe that my dreams, my goals and aspirations could become a reality early on. An important life lesson: Self talk impacts your success. How you communicate with yourself determines what you do and what you don’t do. I would encourage anyone not to allow negative circumstances dictate your future or steal your drive, passion or dreams. Be clear about what you desire and be determined to move towards it.

Contact Info:

• Address: 1757 Broad Park Circle N
  Suite 101, Mansfield, TX 76063
• Website:  tonicarrddsinspiringsmiles.com
• Phone: 682-207-4800
• Email: Email: info@tonicarrdds.com

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